_Carol Manos is the Executive Director and Founder of Carol’s Ferals. She trapped her first feral in the fall of 2005. She didn’t plan on getting into animal welfare / rescue / advocacy. She was enjoying her second career of dealing vintage dolls, toys, and housewares after her first career in Retail Management proved soul sucking and unrewarding. She was asked to trap some feral cats outside of a Burger King in Cuttlerville, Michigan in February of 2006 and she hasn’t stopped trapping cats or advocating for feral and stray cats since that time. Carol’s Ferals’ mission is to end feline overpopulation in West Michigan through communication education and empowerment.

1. What was your first experience with animals that had an impact on you?

I have had a cat my entire life beginning when I was 4 years old. As a child, when I found a dead bird or mouse, I’d bury it in the flower bed. I have always had a “heart” for animals. The main crossing point for me was while volunteering for a month post-Katrina at a shelter in Baton Rouge, LA. I saw trucks with poster painted windows that read “ANIMAL RESCUE”. I wasn’t in “rescue” yet at that time but I had a great deal of admiration for those that were. I never planned to be as involved as I am but I’m glad I can devote my time, energy, and life to something I feel is worth-while and make a difference in this world.

2. When, how, and why did you first get involved with the animal welfare/rights movement?

Quite unintentionally. I was taking care of my father during the last month of his life. I was home and bored. Someone else starting up their own rescue asked me for help. I helped out, then I got sucked in. After seeing that person make a significant difference in the welfare of feral and stray cats, I decided to branch off on my own and do so too.

I am very “hands-on” and require immediate gratification for the work I do. So long term advocacy, politics, and bureaucracy are not for me. I need to be doing something all the time and that activity has to have an immediate result for me to get maximum gratification.

4. What animal issues are you most passionate about?

Animal overpopulation, with an emphasis on cats and specifically feral and stray cats as well as TNR (trap-neuter-return).

5. What current animal-related issue or campaign has caught your attention, and why?

The laws governing treatment of ferals once they hit the sheltering system. The only actions taken are to euthanize the cat. There is much more we can do than that. Ferals need special understanding. I’m happy to be their voice. Also, issues surrounding the rights of people to feed feral cats and the right they have to a life despite the fact that some people consider them a nuisance.

6. How do you address animal issues within your career? Animal welfare IS MY CAREER. It’s not a paying job, but it surely is my job.

7. What advice do you have for someone looking to become a more active animal advocate?

Get involved with a reputable animal rescue organization in your area. Find who is doing what you agree with mostly and see what talents you have that might better the landscape for animals you care most about. Good volunteers are prized in the non-profit animal rescue realm (as in any non-profit realm).

8. What book, quote, photo, video, story, etc. have you found most inspiring/has inspired you?

I have coined my own phrase: “Just because you can’t touch them, doesn’t mean you can’t help them.”

In addition, attending the No More Homeless Pets Conference in Las Vegas for the past two years has really helped me focus my attention to the things I need to do to help more cats from being killed in our shelters.

I also feel it’s important not to vilify our local shelter and humane society for carrying out what our society has sadly created. I want to work closely with these groups to remedy the senseless killing of homeless animals. But so long as a shelter is using humane euthanasia and does not have a contract/association with a Class B Dealer, I’m hoping that there is a resolution to this that we can find together.

Stephanie Lughermo is a 23 year old Grand Valley State University graduate. Working closely with the Humane Society of the United States, Stephanie collaborated with her friend, Lena Spadacene, to co-found Grand Valley’s first animal rights student organization, the Humane Society of Grand Valley. Since graduating college, she has been working in marketing and spends her free time rock climbing and volunteering at the Michigan Humane Society as a dog trainer. Her own companion animal, a border collie-mixed dog named Skippy, is what she calls, her best friend and the most “human” dog she’s ever encountered.

_1. What was your first experience with animals that had an impact on you?My first experience with animals that had an impact on me was adopting my dog. I was ten years old and I thought that we would go see a bunch of happy perfect puppies in a box like you see on TV. Instead, we went to one of the foster homes of the Wyandotte Humane Society and found two dogs that were covered in scars. Both had been rescued from a badly abusive home. We took one home with us immediately and to this day he is my best friend. This experience helped me realize the conditions shelter animals are rescued from, and that’s when I knew I wanted to help species that can’t speak out against the violence and terror that has been inflicted upon them.

2. When, how, and why did you first get involved with the animal welfare/rights movement?

I’ve always been interested in animal welfare/rights. Ever since I was a little kid, I’d play “veterinary hospital” and take care of my stuffed elephants and pandas. But I didn’t get seriously involved until I started working with the Humane Society of the United States in college. Before I hadn’t realized what a real difference we can make in animal welfare. I didn’t know that we could go lobby and that I could have an effect on actual laws to protect animals. Once I realized the power behind letter writing and lobbying, I took off with it.

Volunteering puts you right there with the animals. You are physically and emotionally helping animals. That’s what I love about working with the dogs at the Michigan Humane Society. The scared ones, I can comfort. The anxious ones, I can help calm. I actually get to see the results of my efforts in the dog’s demeanor. I’m able to connect with them. I also know the importance of lobbying, petitions, and letter writing. So many laws could save animals from brutality and terror. Our government won’t pass these laws (or deny laws that allow harm to animals) unless we speak up. We give our government representatives the facts, we appeal to them on different facets, and we fight and fight and fight on a large scale for changes to be made. Changing the life of one dog is important. But bettering brutal conditions, banning cruel killings and fighting for animal rights on a large, governmental scale can make major changes, so I feel that every aspect of working with animals and working for animal rights is important.

4. What animal issues are you most passionate about?

There are two animal issues that have always been so close to my heart: puppy mills and factory farming. Puppy mills are still a huge problem in this country. The conditions of a puppy mill are stomach churning. These dogs are living in their own feces, their nails growing around wire cages, and they are unable to move or see sunlight for weeks at a time. The breeding dogs are seen only as puppy making machines and often die from malnutrition. We need to work with the government to get puppy mills illegal in all states and shut them down immediately. Factory farming is also one of an animal advocate’s constant upward battles. What we do to animals for the sake of human consumption is shameful, and most people want to turn a blind eye to it. It can be summed up in one John Lennon quote, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, we would all be vegetarians.” 5. What current animal-related issue or campaign has caught your attention, and why?

The most recent animal abuse issue that has come to my attention is bear bile farming. These bears are not just kept in horrible conditions. They are not just killed brutally. They are having metal poles shoved into their stomachs daily, without anesthesia, to collect their bile. It’s a form of animal cruelty that needs more attention. The constant suffering of these animals does not justify the means of gathering their bile. I feel that this is a highly unpublicized issue because it is done in foreign countries, but the horror that the animals go through is not one that should be muted. For more information on the issue, please visit: http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=2J0NIOGTVCWA.

6. How do you address animal issues within your career?

The company I work for is focused on large scale event rental and I work in the marketing department, and therefore choose who we market to. Working with co-workers and supervisors, my company has decided not to rent to or support circuses that use and abuse animals. We also offer rental donations to local humane societies and animal-centered events. 7. What advice do you have for someone looking to become a more active animal advocate?

Read up. Find your issues. Find what really sparks your interest and your rage. And then do something about it. If your school or community has a club, bring your cause to that club. If you don’t have club to go to, start one. Write letters to your congress representatives and senators. Call them. Go see them. Never feel defeated. Never lose that initial spark. Everything you do for the sake of animals makes a difference on any scale. But the only way you can make a difference is by putting yourself out there and doing something.

8. What book, quote, photo, video, story, etc. have you found most inspiring/has inspired you?

The book Thanking the Monkey by Karen Dawn gives a very realistic, sometimes funny, and sometimes heartbreaking look at various forms of animal cruelty. It definitely opened my eyes to new thoughts and ideas. It helped shed light on different causes and really emphasized the importance of fighting the upward battle of animal advocacy. Also, the Humane Society of the United States’ website gives constant updates on causes, legislation, and frequent reminders of how people can get involved in the causes that they care most about.

_Mellissa DiCarlo is the executive director of the non-profit exotic animal rescue West Michigan Critter Haven. As of 2012 she has been directly involved in over 265 adoptions. Mellissa is a licensed educator in training for the House Rabbit Society and shares her family home with many rescued pets including house rabbits, two dogs, and a parrot named William. For more information on adopting or fostering for West Michigan Critter Haven please visit the website at www.wmicritterhaven.org or email info@wmicritterhaven.org.1. What was your first experience with animals that had an impact on you?

I’ve always loved animals. My parents were divorced when I was very young, but many years ago my father was a mink rancher. I remember visiting and thinking how unfair it seemed to the mink and how devastated I was to learn what happened to them. Fortunately, my mother loved animals. She and I had pets that we were both devoted to. I grew up with the belief that the animals must be given a voice because so many people just don’t care and readily close their eyes to the hardship of the creatures around them. I never thought I’d be the director of a rescue someday, but now it’s such a part of who I am that I cannot imagine it any other way.

2. When, how, and why did you first get involved with the animal welfare/rights movement?

My husband and I had shared our home with house rabbits for many years and were members of the House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org). When we moved to MI we found a great and urgent need for a rabbit rescue as the local humane societies and shelters were vastly overpopulated and not able to provide the specialized care and nutrition that rabbits need to stay happy and healthy. We were able to find several other people that also loved rabbits and wanted to help. Our rescue was formed and has since expanded with more foster families and the ability to help other exotic pets in need including guinea pigs, rats and other small rodents, chinchillas and degus, parrots and smaller birds, and the occasional vegetarian lizard or amphibian.

Our rescue is composed of an all volunteer network of foster families. As a director, I volunteer about 12 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. While we believe adoption is so important in saving lives, educating our fosters, adopters, and the community is vital to helping pets remain healthy and happy in forever homes instead of being abandoned or relinquished. So, my mission to educate never ends and I am always looking for new outlets to tell people about better ways to care for their small pets while encouraging spays/neuters and adoption.

4. What animal issues are you most passionate about?

I am very passionate that adoption and alteration saves lives. Every time someone adopts they are saving not just that pet but the pet their adoption now made room for within our foster program or a shelter.

5. What current animal-related issue or campaign has caught your attention, and why?

February is national Adopt a Shelter Rabbit month. This is followed by the Make Mine Chocolate Campaign which is a national effort by the House Rabbit Society to bring awareness to the fact that live animals should not be given as holiday impulse gifts. The campaign helps to bring light to rabbits being long term commitments (9-12+ years) while providing alterative ideas such as a toy or a chocolate bunny in an Easter basket instead of a real rabbit which will be forgotten in a few short months.

Each year in November rescues across the country are overwhelmed with the sheer numbers of abandoned and relinquished rabbits. November being about 6 months post Easter is when the tiny baby bunnies given as spring gifts are now grown and have hormones. Within six months time, the novelty of having a new pet has worn off for many families. The more people realize that animals are more than just a couple month commitment, we hope that impulse purchases will be discouraged and less rabbits will be abandoned.

6. How do you address animal issues within your career?

Within my role as the director of West Michigan Critter Haven, I try to talk to as many people as possible because I truly have seen that knowledge is power. I encourage people to look around them within their daily lives and find opportunities to educate about proper care and adoption. While I cannot save every pet, if I can bring a higher level of comfort or a healthier existence to a pet by striking up a conversation with someone standing next to me I feel it’s been a successful day.

7. What advice do you have for someone looking to become a more active animal advocate?

I would recommend volunteering for a rescue group you trust. The pets’ lives will be infinitely better because you were able to give them your love and time. We’ve had multiple adopters come back to us and become foster families because they were encouraged by how many lives a few dedicated people can save. Even if you cannot foster, there are so many ways to make a difference. Whether it’s helping to take high quality pictures to be posted for adoption searches, cleaning cages, spending play time with lonely pets or organizing a donation drive for the rescue—you are helping to save lives and make them so much happier.

8. What book, quote, photo, video, story, etc. have you found most inspiring/has inspired you?

The Starfish Story Original Story by: Loren Eisley

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, What are you doing?

The youth replied, Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.

Son,the man said, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said I made a difference for that one.

The star fish story has always inspired me. I’ve had so many people ask why I even try since I can’t save everyone and what does it really matter. I’ve cried myself to sleep countless nights feeling the grief of all the pets I’ve had to turn away that day because we did not have foster home room, but then I’ll look into the face of one of the little ones who I’ve been able to help save. I hear the stories of how an originally terrified pet finally felt brave enough to venture across the room and nudge her foster on the hand for a treat. I’ve read the adopter updates telling how much joy their pet has brought and how they are grateful for their new family member and I feel a great peace in knowing that what I am doing is important and does make a difference each and every day.

Jill is the Michigan state director for The Humane Society United States. She has a background in grassroots activism, serving as national coordinator of World Farm Animals Day sponsored by Farm Animal Reform Movement, and working as student coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Before coming to The HSUS in 2006, Fritz had a long tenure at San Diego public radio affiliate KPBS as a producer, director, and editor, winning 10 first-place journalism awards for her work.

1. What was your first experience with animals that had an impact on you?I’ve always loved animals, particularly cats; I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be around cats, rescue them, take care of them, watch goofy videos of them, and just be awed by their awesomeness.

2. When, how, and why did you first get involved with the animal welfare/rights movement?In the late 1980s, a friend handed me a pamphlet about fur production. It went into excruciating detail about anal electrocution of foxes on fur farms and how animals suffer in body-gripping traps before they are stomped or bludgeoned to death. Back then I was your basic meat-and-dairy consuming Midwesterner, but by the time I finished reading that pamphlet I vowed to become vegetarian and to devote the rest of my life to animal protection. I went vegan soon after that.

3. What are your favorite types of animal advocacy activities? Why? (i.e. lobbying, letter-writing, petitions, volunteering, protests, etc.)I love traveling the state, getting citizens more involved in the legislative process and in government and regulatory agencies at the local, county, and state level. It’s so great to see people becoming more empowered to make real change. For example, we’re seeing Michigan citizens forming animal control advisory boards for their county commissioners, to help improve their animal control shelter practices.

I’ve had the opportunity in 2011 to visit many cities in Michigan with The HSUS’ president, Wayne Pacelle, as part of the tour he’s doing nationally surrounding the publication of his first book, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them. Wayne will be back in Michigan on January 19, appearing at Kazoo Books II in Kalamazoo at noon, and at Calvin College in Grand Rapids at 7:30 pm. I encourage anyone in Western Michigan to join us at one of these events.

4. What animal issues are you most passionate about?To me, trapping and fur farming are the most egregious offenses we commit against the animal kingdom. There is no justification for causing that much suffering and agony for the sake of vanity. I’m astounded that we still allow it to continue. I am also appalled by factory farming practices, and I’m glad that we’ve passed legislation in Michigan to phase out the worst confinement methods like veal crates, gestation crates, and battery cages.

5. What current animal-related issue or campaign has caught your attention, and why?We’re working on legislation to end pound seizure in our state. Two Michigan animal control shelters still provide pets to Class B dealers, who supply animals to research laboratories. As a result the animals can end up in horrible experiments like a recent case at Wayne State. Michiganders want their shelters to be safe havens for homeless pets. If you have to make the painful decision to relinquish a pet you can‘t afford, or if a lost pet is picked up by animal control, the last thing you want is for them to end up subjected to painful experiments.

6. How do you address animal issues within your career?I’m fortunate to hold the position of Michigan State Director for the Humane Society of the United States and to have so many opportunities to help animals. I wish there was more time in the day since there are so many needs to address. I encourage anyone who is interested in bringing their skills and experience to work for animals to contact me to get more involved, at michigan@humanesociety.org. You can also visit our Volunteer Center at www.humanesociety.org/volunteer.

7. What advice do you have for someone looking to become a more active animal advocate? Learn the laws! Find out everything you possibly can about state and federal laws and regulations regarding animal cruelty, animal fighting, wildlife, lab animals, and farm animals. And if you don’t like them, change them. The HSUS holds a Humane Lobby Day every year, and I’d love to see more people joining me in Lansing on April 17, 2012 to talk with our lawmakers. We provide materials and tips to make it easy and fun to get involved.

8. What book, quote, photo, video, story, etc. have you found most inspiring/has inspired you? This is probably a cliché, but Peter Singer’s book Animal Liberation—I think it should be required reading. And I’ve always loved a quote from Brigid Brophy that goes, “Whenever people say ‘We mustn’t be sentimental,’ you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add ‘We must be realistic,’ they mean they are going to make money out of it.” That sums up so well the challenges we face— the people and companies who profit from animal cruelty are trying to stop the tidal wave of animal protection reform. I find inspiration in that quote to work with citizens from across the state to make sure that animals are treated humanely.

Blog MissionTo feature prominent as well as lesser-known animal advocates in order to a provide a resource for those interested in learning about current advocacy activities and how one can get more involved in the animal protection movement.

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